Christian Ehrhoff returned Thursday following a one-game absence. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Ehrhoff’s return pushes Pardy out of Sabres’ lineup

BUFFALO – Going back to the minors was difficult at first, Adam Pardy said. Other than a two-game conditioning stint last season, the Sabres defenseman had spent more than four years in the NHL.

Then the Sabres, who acquired Pardy from Dallas in July, waived the 28-year-old during training camp last month. Numbers kicked Pardy, the ninth defenseman in an eight-man race, back to the AHL.

“It’s something I’ve never went through before,” Pardy said ... Read the full article

Christian Ehrhoff skated this morning. ©2013. Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ Ehrhoff plans to return tonight

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ banged-up defense corps should be getting their best player back tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.

Christian Ehrhoff, sidelined by a muscle strain Tuesday, skated this morning inside the First Niagara Center.

“I took the whole skate and I’m ready to go tonight,” Ehrhoff said afterward.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff wouldn’t pronounce Ehrhoff fully ready yet, however.

“He’s going to take warm-up tonight and we’ll see where he’s at,” Ruff said. “Early ... Read the full article

Mike Weber isn’t practicing this afternoon ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres’ defense corps getting woefully thin

BUFFALO – Remember just a few weeks ago when the Sabres’ defense corps went nine deep? Heck, they even waived Adam Pardy, an NHL veteran.

Well, the Sabres are down to five defensemen this afternoon at practice inside the First Niagara Center.

Mike Weber’s the newest name missing. Stay tuned for an update. It could merely be a maintenance day. He joins Christian Ehrhoff (muscle strain), Robyn Regehr (lower body) and Andrej Sekera (bruised ... Read the full article

Adam Pardy played five games in Rochester. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres recall defenseman Adam Pardy

BUFFALO – This morning, five Sabres who played in Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Florida – Christian Ehrhoff, Marcus Foligno, Cody Hodgson, Steve Ott and Jason Pominville – didn’t skate during an optional workout inside the First Niagara Center.

“We got a couple guys that are nicked up that may be doubtful (for the Senators),” coach Lindy Ruff said after the Sabres prepared for Tuesday’s tilt in Ottawa.

Well, at least one probably won’t be playing ... Read the full article

John Scott (right) fights George Parros during the second period Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

T.J. Brennan replaces Andrej Sekera on Sabres’ banged-up blue line

BUFFALO – A bruised foot sidelined Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera for Sunday afternoon’s 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. Rookie T.J. Brennan replaced him, making his second appearance this season.

Sekera blocked Alexei Emelin’s shot shortly into his first shift Saturday, went to the dressing room and returned for several shifts before leaving the Sabres’ 6-1 loss in Montreal again after the first period.

Ruff hopes it’s a short-term injury.

“He took a pretty hard ... Read the full article

T.J. Brennan will replace Andrej Sekera. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Injured Andrej Sekera out, T.J. Brennan in for Sabres

BUFFALO – Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekera will miss this afternoon’s tilt against the Florida Panthers after bruising his foot Saturday, coach Lindy Ruff said. Rookie T.J. Brennan will replace him.

Sekera blocked Alexei Emelin’s shot shortly into his first shift, went to the dressing room and returned for several shifts before leaving the Sabres’ 6-1 loss in Montreal again after the first period.

Ruff hopes it’s a short-term injury.

“He took a pretty hard shot,” ... Read the full article

Mikhail Grigorenko could make his NHL debut Sunday. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Top prospect Grigorenko makes 23-man roster; Sabres mum on status for opener

BUFFALO – The Sabres first planted the seeds almost seven months ago inside the Consol Energy Center. Mikhail Grigorenko, the slick center that had just fallen to them 12th overall at the NHL Entry Draft, would be given every chance to play in the big leagues immediately, they said.

The strong words from the team’s brass that June night in Pittsburgh resonated. The Sabres hadn’t had an 18-year-old play regularly for them since center ... Read the full article

Mikhail Grigorenko chats with Kevyn Adams today. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Grigorenko makes Sabres’ 23-man opening-day roster

BUFFALO – Not surprisingly, first-round pick Mikhail Grigorenko made the 23-man regular-season roster the Sabres announced this afternoon.

But will the 18-year-old center be in Sunday afternoon’s opening-day lineup?

“I could’ve stepped up here and asked that question,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff joked as he began fielding questions this afternoon inside the First Niagara Center. “Mikhail’s had a good week. Obviously, I’m not going to give you that decision right now. We got another practice ... Read the full article

The Sabres placed Adam Pardy on waivers today. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Report: Sabres place Pardy on waivers

BUFFALO – The Sabres waived three players today, most notably defenseman Adam Pardy, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

The team also placed Rochester forwards Kevin Porter and Nick Tarnasky on waivers, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle’s Kevin Oklobjiza reported.

Pardy, a possible addition to Rochester despite his $2 million salary, leaves the Sabres with eight defensemen, a number they could carry on their regular-season roster.

The 28-year-old Pardy spoke Sunday about the excitement he experienced... Read the full article

Adam Pardy played only 36 games last season. ©2013, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres newcomer Pardy poised to earn spot on stacked blue line

BUFFALO – Adam Pardy couldn’t handle his difficult situation in Dallas last season. Becoming a spare part and clashing with his coach wore the Sabres’ new defenseman down mentally. Going to the rink every day became tough.

Following the season, Pardy felt “embarrassed for myself as a player, as a person,” he said. The 28-year-old had sat 44 times as a healthy scratch and even went back to the minors briefly. The negative experience gnawed ... Read the full article